PIR for the Levator Scapulae
stretchneck
A video demonstration is coming soon. Follow the step-by-step instructions below.
How to do it
- Bring the levator scapulae to its barrier (neck flexed and rotated away, head tipped, scapula depressed).
- Imagine or barely contract the muscle and hold 20 to 30 s.
- Relax fully and allow the segment to move into the newly available range.
- Repeat 3 to 4 times, each time from the new barrier.
- Add eye-up/inhale on contraction and eye-down/exhale on relaxation to enhance the effect.
Form cues
- Depress the shoulder blade to localize the levator.
- Minimal contraction effort, full relaxation after.
- No mechanical over-stretching - gains come from relaxation.
Dosage
20-30 s contraction then relax; 3-4 repetitions.
Muscles worked

Stretches: levator scapulae
Target muscles
Helps with
Related exercises
Reference: Muscle Imbalance (Janda) p.148, Fig 10.9